KYLE LAFFERTY has handed Walter Smith a boost ahead of the crucial SPL run in by declaring himself fit for this weekend's Ibrox meeting with Hearts.

The Northern Ireland star has been missing for over five weeks after suffering an ankle injury the last time the Tynecastle club made the trip to Govan.

But after fearing that his season was over, the news that Lafferty will now be available for Rangers' final five league matches and the Scottish Cup final will come as a timely lift for the 21-year-old.

The eight goal striker has returned to training with the rest of the first team squad this week and hopes to make the bench against Hearts on Sunday.

He said: "I've trained with the squad for the second time today and I'm available for selection on Sunday which is a big bonus for me.

"When I first got the injury I thought that was my season finished. I kept hearing it would be two months but then when I was told 4-6 weeks it gave me something to aim for.

"It's about five weeks since I did it now so I'm really happy with that. I had been doing well in the first 35 minutes or so against Hearts before I came off with the injury and now I'm just hoping to get a run out and maybe a goal at the weekend.

"But I think it would be harsh on the lads that have come in if I went straight back in to the starting line up because they have done really well and gone on a great run.

"So I know it is going to be difficult to get back in the team. I just have to work hard in training and if I get a chance in the game I need to show what I can do again.

"Of course everybody wants to be involved in the run in and if we go about things the right way we should be ok. Hopefully I can play a big part in that now."

RANGERS will give three key players fitness tests tomorrow ahead of the vital opening post-split fixture against Hearts on Sunday.

Pedro Mendes, Sasa Papac and DaMarcus Beasley will all be put through their paces in a bid to prove their availability for the crucial SPL clash.

The good news is that, as reported yesterday, Kyle Lafferty is back in the squad while Lee McCulloch is also available again.

Walter Smith will delay his team selection until he learns of the results on Mendes, Papac and Beasley but he has an enforced change to make in any case as Madjid Bougherra is suspended.

He has options for the centre back role with Christian Dailly, McCulloch or perhaps Andy Webster coming in for what would be his first top team game of the season.

Mendes was carried off in last week's Homecoming Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren after taking a kick just above the knee but has been responding to treatment all week and was involved in this morning's training session at Murray Park.

Coincidentally, it was against St Mirren that both Papac and Beasley were injured. The Bosnian defender needed five stitches in an ankle gash sustained at St Mirren Park on April 5 while Beasley was carried off with rib damage and breathing difficulties in the same game.

Papac was suspended last weekend but it is still touch and go whether he will be ready to come back in. Beasley, however, seems to be recovered and also trained this morning.

PEDRO MENDES has proved his fitness to be ready for Sunday's vital Hearts clash but it looks like Sasa Papac will miss out.

The other good news is that, as reported yesterday, Kyle Lafferty is back in the squad while Lee McCulloch is also available again.

Mendes trained with the squad this morning at Murray Park and Smith said: "Pedro, Kyle and Lee are all back with us and they are in the squad for Sunday.

"Mendes took a nasty knock last week on the top of the knee but it was just bruising and there was no ligament damage. We will check that there is no reaction but we don't expect there will be and we expect him to be OK.

"Papac is a doubt, however, and of course we have Madjid Bougherra suspended so with Kirk Broadfoot still injured we are a bit stretched at the back.

"We will miss Bougherra because has been playing very well but the lads who have come in before have done very well. The last time we played Hearts, for example, we had Lee McCulloch and Christian Dailly made up our central defensive partnership so hopefully we won't miss him that much."

He has options for the centre back role with Dailly, McCulloch or perhaps Andy Webster coming in for what would be his first top team game of the season.

Smith confirmed today that Webster is in the squad and could feature. He said: "Andy will be involved in Sunday's squad.

"Obviously his career here has not gone the way he would have wanted it to go and that's down mainly to injury. He has missed most of my time here. He has been fit for the past few months but it takes time to get back into the squad."

Papac suffered an ankle gash against St Mirrren on April 5 and it could be that Stevie Smith, who has been playing in midfield, moves back to play in his normal left back slot.

DaMarcus Beasley was back in training today but Smith will wait before making a decision on his inclusion. The American was hurt in the same St Mirren game as Papac, suffering rib damage.